Star-Advertiser subscribers to get access to Washington Post

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and The Washington Post have formed a partnership to provide Star-Advertiser subscribers free access to The Washington Post's digital content and increase online readership for the Post.

Starting June 1, Star-Advertiser print subscribers will get free access to all Washington Post digital content via websites and mobile apps. The Post normally charges $99 per year, or $9.99 per month, for full digital access.

"We are excited to be able to offer Star-Advertiser subscribers The Washington Post's suite of digital news products free via the Post's desktop and mobile websites and phone and tablet apps," said Dennis Francis, Star-Advertiser publisher and president of its parent company, Oahu Publications, Inc.

"This partnership with The Washington Post allows us to offer our local subscribers access to a wealth of national and international news and commentary produced by a legendary, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper," Francis said.

Francis said the partnership is the latest example of how newspapers are finding ways to thrive in a digital environment that initially challenged the traditional newspaper publishing industry.

The Washington Post's new owner, Amazon.com founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos, wants to attract more readers to the Post's content. Bezos bought the Post in October for $250 million.

The Star-Advertiser is one of only six daily newspapers in the nation that are partnering with The Washington Post in this pilot program.

Washington Post President Stephen P. Hills said, "This program is a way for us to work with newspapers and other print and digital partners around the country to both add value to their subscriptions and expose the Post to a wider audience than ever before."

Access to The Washington Post's digital content will be free to print subscribers of the Star-Advertiser and The Garden Island newspaper on Kauai, which is also owned by Oahu Publications.

Other newspapers taking part in the pilot program include The Dallas Morning News, The Toledo Blade, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is the flagship publication of Oahu Publications, whose portfolio includes MidWeek, The Garden Island, the Hawaii Army Weekly, Hawaii Marine, Ho'okele Weekly, HILuxury and a growing roster of community periodicals and in-room resort magazines.

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Oahuanwrote:

Great more liberal BS. As if the StarAdvertiser liberal views weren't enough now we get to read what the liberals in Washington thinks. SMH

on April 4,2014 | 05:04AM

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hokuahiwrote:

Nah.. this is cool brah!! More bang for our buck!

on April 4,2014 | 05:59AM

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ellinaskyrtwrote:

The SA's partnership with the WaPo will definitely prove far more valuable to readers than the SA's partnership with Hawaii News Now. I, for one, greatly appreciate the access to the institution that uncovered Watergate and Republican corruption in the White House.

on April 4,2014 | 06:04AM

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cojefwrote:

There are ulterior motives behind this partnership, such as the possibilities that subscription rates increases and/or Post exacting or soliciting membership from you. That's my take on this "free-give-away" gimmick. Hope, I am wrong??

on April 4,2014 | 07:51AM

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HawaiiMongoosewrote:

The ulterior motive is that increased readership will allow the Post to charge higher fees to companies that advertise on its website. That's not likely to translate into higher SA subscription rates for us. This is a benefit of there being so much competition for eyeballs on the web.

on April 4,2014 | 10:31AM

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HanabataDayswrote:

All you have to do is not click your mouse. You have to make an attempt, actually perform physical action, in order to visit WaPo. They won't notice that you're not there, trust me.

on April 4,2014 | 08:10AM

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HD36wrote:

Looks like the rest of the nation isn't believing it so they've turned to one of the strongest liberal states in the nation. Then they can say they've increased readership and charge more for advertising.

on April 4,2014 | 08:30PM

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melane3wrote:

The Washington Post is one of the world's great newspapers, along with the NY Times. I read both everyday, so this is great news - no pun intended.

on April 4,2014 | 06:48AM

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cojefwrote:

Thanks no, hope I am wrong here also. With new ownership of the Post will have wait and see if the same editorial policy remains intact or changes.

on April 4,2014 | 07:54AM

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Slowwrote:

Thank you SA. I was so hungry for investigative journalism and quality reporting that I have subscribed to Civil Beat. I have contemplated subscribing to the NY Times or Washingtomn Post. I will now renew my subscription to the SA.

on April 4,2014 | 06:53AM

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loquaciousonewrote:

This is exciting. I can't wait to read the Washington Post and read about..........um...........err wait.......uhhhhhh.....the OBITURARIES!

on April 4,2014 | 07:51AM

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Maneki_Nekowrote:

Or the spelling section.

on April 4,2014 | 08:10AM

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loquaciousonewrote:

It's rare when I make a spelling error but my spell check broke when I tried to log into the Hawaii Health Connector.

on April 4,2014 | 09:02AM

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Maneki_Nekowrote:

their are mnay problems but you're spelling aint won of them.

on April 4,2014 | 12:11PM

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alohadianewrote:

I was excited until I reread the article and saw that it applies to Star Advertiser print subscribers, not Star Advertiser digital subscribers. Auwe!

on April 4,2014 | 08:09AM

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Maneki_Nekowrote:

Yup. Fooled me, too. We are second class citizens but we have more fun than those print subscribers.

on April 4,2014 | 08:11AM

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HanabataDayswrote:

Marvelous. I won't have to change my referer to get in anymore!

on April 4,2014 | 08:12AM

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Mythmanwrote:

Q story unclear if we who only subscribe and pay for the digital SA are included in the WAPO access? Clarify please. WAPO far exceeds the NY Times, which has become a NYC Lifestyle oriented pub.

on April 4,2014 | 11:22AM

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GooglyMooglywrote:

Credibility finally comes to the SA. Granted, it's by way of the Washington Post, but beggars can't be choosers.

on April 4,2014 | 11:53AM

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808noelaniwrote:

Free for now and only time will tell. And if they do raise rates in the future because of the Washington Post access, I don't think subscribers will have the option to opt out and not pay the higher rate. Like a lot of things going on today, you're forced to pay for things that you don't want.

on April 4,2014 | 12:24PM

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iwanaknowwrote:

I enjoy reading the San Fransisco Chronicle sfgate.com readers comments.......I just wish I could comment for free